A Rapid Performance Assessment Method for Microfluidic Chips

Abstract

We present a method to assess microchip performance for on-chip electrophoretic separations. The assessment is realized through electrophoretic manipulation of a DNA size standard using specially designed electric voltage programs. Results achieved from the assessment could be used as an indicator of microchip "aging" in terms of lowered resolutions and fluctuations in electro-osmotic flow (EOF).